Thursday, December 27, 2007

I love Christmas time. I always have very mixed emotions when it is over. When I was a child, I can remember the sad, very down feeling I would have on December 26. I could hardly believe that it was over. As an adult, I still have that feeling in some way. However, mixed with that sadness is a sense of relief. Probably because I know how fast times goes and that Christmas will be back before I know it.

So now, the dread has set in. The dread of looking at all of these beautiful decorations and knowing that I have to clean them up. I feel a sense of sadness that they have to go. Yet, at the same time, I'm so sick of them I wish I could snap my fingers and have them disappear.

When I was a child, I can remember us begging our mother to leave the decorations out until New Years Day was over. Now, I have been known to start UNdecorating on Christmas night. It is amazing how ones perspective changes over the years.

Christmas was wonderful this year. I don't ever recall having an UNwonderful Christmas. I love to watch the boys reactions as they open up their presents. We went to San Angelo on Christmas Eve to the candlelight service at Johnson Street church of Christ where my uncle preaches. I was in tears as I sat there with all of my cousins, my parents, my aunt and uncle and my precious husband and boys. I love family. It was at that very moment that I missed my sister the most.

My heart was also heavy this year for my precious friend and her family. On Memorial Day, a tragic accident claimed the life of her 13 yr. old nephew. I prayed earnestly for them all day. The void in that large family must be indescribeable. Please pray for blessing and peace to be on this family.

I pray that you all had a wonderful Christmas. I will post pictures soon. (correction: Wade will post pictures... I still don't know how) Blessings!!!

Monday, December 10, 2007

Hello to all of our friends in blogland. These past couple of weeks have been very busy and filled with sickness. Last Friday, Bryson threw up at school and had a fever. The stomach bug passed after 24 hrs, however he could not seem to kick the fever. Finally, on Sunday, I took him over to a good friend of ours to be checked out. Dr. James looked at his throat and said that it was probably strep and gave him some anitbiotic. (James is actually an OB/GYN. I'm going to have fun telling Bryson about that one day..."remember that time you were sick and I took you to the gynocologist....")

The smart and always on top of things mother that I am (HA!) stated that I should probably go ahead and start giving Cason the meds also. Of course I did not and Friday he came home with a fever. He actually kind of scared us because he had this HUGE lump on the side of his neck. What scared me was that he had his 4 yr. old immunizations on Wednesday (yes, I know, 8 months late, mother of the year...)and I was afraid that he could be having a reaction. Well, 2 hours and an ER visit later, we find out that he has strep. The lump was just an enlarged lymph node trying to fight off the infection.

So, that has been the story of our home. Even amidst the strep, we have made a couple of trips to see my parents and prepare for the holdidays. I love this time of year, however, it is never quite the same without my sister and her family. I always miss them most during this time. This next week is going to be a busy one. Starting today through next Tuesday we have 3 Christmas Pageants and 2 Birthdays to celebrate. The advent candle that we began lighting for this week is "PEACE". I pray for peace and a whole lot of Grace!

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Well, my friends, football season is over in Odessa. As I sit here in my parents home, I am sulking. We played Euless Trinity today in Abilene. We played them earlier this year and upset them 37-3. Today the score was 38-14. The season was a blast. I will miss going to the games every week-end, however, there is a bright side. Wade was saving his vacation days just in case we made it to the state game. Now, he can use them to take Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off. I am looking forward to Christmas...that is all I have to say right now. I am going to take a long hot bath in my mom's jacuzzi tub...and probably sulk some more. I think a night like tonight calls for a pot of decaf coffee and a late night viewing of "Christmas Vacation."